EDITORIAL: Time for Stillman to engage community

Published: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 8:35 p.m.

Stillman College’s promotional ads say that it is a “private college with a public mission.” That’s a catchy phrase, but it also implies that the historically black college has an obligation to the public.

It’s time that Stillman’s board of trustees lived up to that public obligation and leveled with its alumni, students, supporters and the greater community about what happened with former President Ernest McNealey last week. One minute, McNealey was speaking to students and faculty at the school’s fall convocation. The next, the college announced that an acting president had been named and later said McNealey was on leave. No explanation has been forthcoming.

McNealey fell off the face of the earth as cleanly as a

Soviet-era Russian dissident. As far as we know, Stillman doesn’t have a satellite campus in Siberia, but we’re still checking on that.

McNealey followed the very popular Cordell Wynn at Stillman. When Wynn arrived, the college had serious problems and faced a very uncertain future. He built the college’s enrollment and its endowment and got it on sound footing. He was gregarious, likable and omnipresent in Tuscaloosa’s community life.

McNealey’s style couldn’t have been more different from Wynn’s. He seemed to lack Wynn’s people skills and, at different times, he alienated alumni, trustees and community leaders, some of whom characterized him as abrasive.

His approach not only cut ties with some supporters, it also tended to isolate the college from the community. But he also made some impressive changes at Stillman, improving facilities and expanding its athletic program. Some of those moves, particularly with regard to athletics, were intended to help broaden Stillman’s base of support among alumni and others. McNealey achieved some success in that effort.

Stillman is an important part of the Tuscaloosa community, and the college and community should have a mutually beneficial relationship. Stillman would certainly benefit from local community involvement and support. Openness is a key part of a healthy relationship with the community. The college’s board of trustees can begin fostering more openness by talking frankly about the very sudden change in leadership that has occurred.

<p>Stillman College's promotional ads say that it is a “private college with a public mission.” That's a catchy phrase, but it also implies that the historically black college has an obligation to the public.</p><p>It's time that Stillman's board of trustees lived up to that public obligation and leveled with its alumni, students, supporters and the greater community about what happened with former President Ernest McNealey last week. One minute, McNealey was speaking to students and faculty at the school's fall convocation. The next, the college announced that an acting president had been named and later said McNealey was on leave. No explanation has been forthcoming.</p><p>McNealey fell off the face of the earth as cleanly as a </p><p>Soviet-era Russian dissident. As far as we know, Stillman doesn't have a satellite campus in Siberia, but we're still checking on that.</p><p>McNealey followed the very popular Cordell Wynn at Stillman. When Wynn arrived, the college had serious problems and faced a very uncertain future. He built the college's enrollment and its endowment and got it on sound footing. He was gregarious, likable and omnipresent in Tuscaloosa's community life.</p><p>McNealey's style couldn't have been more different from Wynn's. He seemed to lack Wynn's people skills and, at different times, he alienated alumni, trustees and community leaders, some of whom characterized him as abrasive.</p><p>His approach not only cut ties with some supporters, it also tended to isolate the college from the community. But he also made some impressive changes at Stillman, improving facilities and expanding its athletic program. Some of those moves, particularly with regard to athletics, were intended to help broaden Stillman's base of support among alumni and others. McNealey achieved some success in that effort.</p><p>Stillman is an important part of the Tuscaloosa community, and the college and community should have a mutually beneficial relationship. Stillman would certainly benefit from local community involvement and support. Openness is a key part of a healthy relationship with the community. The college's board of trustees can begin fostering more openness by talking frankly about the very sudden change in leadership that has occurred.</p>